She and Jules sparred effortlessly as Melissa and Bianca fought their attraction, with Amir providing the chink in their wheel, the man Bianca was assumed to have feelings for. And then it was just the two of them at the center of the stage, hands clasped, staring into each other’s eyes.
“It wasn’t supposed to be you,” Jules said, her voice projecting across the theater. “And yet, you’re the only one I can think about.”
“And for me, it’s only ever been you,” Sophie replied, her fingers squeezing Jules’s.
Jules leaned in, and Sophie met her halfway, holding her gaze as their lips met. It was a closed-mouthed kiss, a stage kiss, and yet it consumed Sophie from head to toe, as if the spotlight illuminating them was shining out from inside her, burning her with its intensity.
Jules’s lips trembled against hers, but her grip was steady, her eyes glittering with the reflection of the stage lights. They spun slowly—the way they’d done that time Jules had helped her with her understudy rehearsal—turning to face the crowd as their lips parted, hands still clasped between them. Jules smiled, chest heaving as she sucked in a deep breath.
The crowd burst into an enthusiastic round of applause as the curtain began to drop. Sophie darted a quick glance into the audience, taking in a brief impression of the rows of seats, filled with patrons all watching them with rapt attention. She returned her gaze to Jules, grinning at her until the curtain was down.
Sophie’s head was spinning. The adrenaline rush of the crowd, that kiss, and her proximity to Jules had her half-drunk on its power. The stage lights dimmed, and Jules gave Sophie’s hands a quick squeeze before releasing them.
“You did great,” she whispered, and then she turned and walked off the stage without another word.
Sophie stood there for a long moment, one hand pressed against her lips. Around her, the stage filled with various members of the crew, rushing about to prepare for the second act. On the other side of the curtain, a buzz of conversation grew as the audience rose to stretch their legs during the intermission. Sophie shook herself out of her trance and hurried off stage.
“Girl, you were amazing.” Tabitha materialized at her side, hooking her arm through Sophie’s as they walked to their dressing room.
“It felt amazing,” Sophie admitted. Her whole body felt fuzzy and light, like she’d swallowed helium. All she could think about was getting back out there for the second act.
“And how was the kiss?” Tabitha asked once they’d closed the door behind them.
“More electric than it probably should have been, all things considered.”
“You twoareelectric together. I think the whole crowd saw that tonight. I know I sure as hell did, and I’m pretty sure Kari did too.”
Sophie rolled her eyes, trying to play it off. “So we still have chemistry.”
“You’re combustible.”
“Good thing we can use it to our advantage.” Sophie reached for her next costume. She freshened up, got changed, and then it was time to take the stage again.
The second act was a whirlwind, with both Sophie and Jules on stage the majority of the time. They shared a synchronized dance as they sang about their blossoming romance, and although they’d never practiced it together before—this number having been significantly reworked for Jules and Micki during previews—they were almost effortlessly in sync.
Before Sophie had realized it, Jules was taking her seat at the piano for her big solo, and then they were dancing their way through the final number. As they approached the front of the stage during curtain call, Sophie stood next to Jules, hands clasped, remaining up front with Jules and Amir for a second bow.
This time, she let herselfreallylook into the crowd, memorizing the sea of faces smiling back at her. Many of the audience members were on their feet. The cheers and applause were deafening. This happened at the end of every performance, but it felt louder tonight, standing beside Jules. The crowd didn’t always give a standing ovation, especially not on a Wednesday. Some audiences were more enthusiastic than others.
When it was time for Jules to take her solo bow, she clung to Sophie’s hand for an extra moment. Sophie turned to her in surprise, and Jules winked at her with a dazzling smile, the kind of smile that sent Sophie’s pulse whirling and had heat spreading over her skin. She grinned back, even as she dropped Jules’s hand and retreated, leaving her to take her solo bow.
As Sophie walked off stage, Kari caught up to her in the wings. “You were brilliant tonight, Sophie. Absolutely wonderful.”
“Thank you.” Her voice sounded breathless, her pulse still racing from that loaded moment with Jules.
“I don’t really have any notes for you,” Kari said. “Just do what you did tonight again tomorrow, and we’ll be in great shape.”
“Thanks,” she whispered, one hand pressed against her heart. “I really appreciate that.” She jogged down the stairs to her dressing room like she was floating, and then she stood there for a moment, eyes closed, wanting to remember this moment, wanting to seal the entire evening in a vault inside her brain and live there forever.
And the realization that had been rising steadily inside her over the last few weeks—ever since she’d decided to leave—finally broke through her consciousness.
I can’t give this up.
She couldn’t quit. She couldn’t leave Broadway. Performing was in her blood.Juleswas in her blood. She had to stay. She had to fight for her career, the only career she’d ever wanted. And she had to fight for the woman she loved.
24
Jules sat in the solitude of her dressing room. She’d never been a woman who enjoyed that sort of thing. Solitude was for others. Jules preferred to be surrounded by friends and family, laugher and hugs and conversation. Lately, though, she enjoyed taking time for herself, time she’d tried not to spend nursing her broken heart, but then again, wasn’t that the whole point? Obviously, it was the reason she no longer felt like celebrating with her friends.
